Sheet conveying apparatus



Oct. 18, 1932. H. MELIN I 1,882,855

SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 15. 1931 INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANS MELIN, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AETNA STANDARD ENGINEER- ING COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOVI'N, OHIO,'A CORPORATION OF OHIO V SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS Application filed October 13; 1931. Serial No. 568,576. r

This invention relating as indicated to sheet conveying apparatus, is designed primarily for the purpose of conveying hot sheets at a rolling or like temperature in as- '5; sociation with rolling mills and like apparatus.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, one chief objection to sheet conveying tables associated with rolling mills and de- 10 signed for the purpose of conveying sheets to and from the rolls is that the sheets in the areas in which they contact with the table lose a considerable portion of the heat so that when the sheet or pack is subsequently passed "18 through the rolls uneven elongations will result and further internal stresses will be set up in the resultant material.

When a conveyor table employing endless laterally spaced. chains ,is utilized as the 20 means for conveying the sheets or packs, the

sheets or packs resting on the table will have spaced dark bands indicating the areas in which there has been a transfer of heat from the sheet or pack to the supporting means.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a form of sheet supporting and conveying means which will have none of the above named undesirable characteristics. Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of Various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conveyor chain constructed in accordance with the principles comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the chain illustrated in Fig. 1 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 22; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. '2, showing an alternative form of construction of a portion of the chain; and Figs. 4 and 5 The annexed drawing and the following views of a furtherandpossibly preferred *form of construction of the apparatus a11- thorizing my invention.

purpose of conveying heated metallic sheets or packs in sheet mill installation.

The chain proper consists ofspaced side bars 1 which form'one link and which are connected-to spaced sidebars 2, forming the 1 ly the links, are oscillatably interconnected by means of'pins such as 3. The pin 3 has a central portion 4 of enlarged diameter which 'serves as a means for spacing the side bars-of thechain and also as a means for rotatably supporting a roller 5 which normally runs on a track 6 and thereby supports the chain.

The means comprising my invention which have been designed for the purpose of directly supporting andengaging thehot sheets to be conveyed, consists of washer members 6 formed of refractory or non-inflammable thermally non-conductive material or material which has a relatively low thermal conductivity. These washers, which may be "formed of asbestos or like material, are preferably provided with a central bushing .7

which rotatably support the washers on the 'pins3. a

The side bars, rollers andplates supporting washers are maintained in assembled relation upon the pins by means ofend washers 8 and pins 9 projecting :through the pins 3 and maintaining the several elements in assembled relation on the pins 3.

As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, instead of forming substantially the entire sheets supporting washers 6 of suitable ther- --mally non-conductive material, as illustrated in Fig. 2, I may prefer to form such washers with a'metallic body supporting portion '10 upon which is. mounted a tire ll of suitably "thermally non-conductive materialwhich will engage the sheets to be conveyed by the chain. When the construction such as is illustrated in anja'cent link. The side bars, and accordingare respectively fragmentary-and elevational for sheets comprising a chain having side bars and cross pins, and auxiliary side bars of low thermal conductivity extending above said first named side bars.

Signed by me this 10th day of October,

HANS MELIN.

In Figs. 4 and 5 isillustrated a further modification of the construction comprising my invention, which constructionrmay,for some reasons, be the preferred form. As il lustrated in these figures, the sheet supportmg members 12 of the chain which are of suitable materialhaving relatively low thermal conductivity, are extended so as to be oscillatably secured to adjacent cross pins of the chain. These'members 120i course extend upwardly from the chain sufliciently to keep the sheet or packs from coming in contact with the metal portion of the chain.

- One particular advantage which this last described form of construction has over the previously described forms is that larger areas are available for the support of the sheet and further, there is no possibility of the sheet supporting means rotating and permitting-relative movement between the sheet and the'conveying chain- If an apparatus such as is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 is employed,

however, the washers 6 and 10 may be keyed to the cross shafts of the chain in order to prevent rotation and consequent relative movement between the sheets or pack and such chain. 7

' Regardless of the particular form of construction employed, such as the asbestos washer illustrated in Fig. 2 or the structure .illustratedin'Figs. 3 to 5, 'it will be noted such means for supporting the heated sheets that when a conveyor chain is provided with the flow of heat from the sheet to the chain will be reduced to a very minimum so that the black bands normally occurring in the sheets when supported on the chain will be eliminated. Y r It is believed that a further description 0 the principles comprising my invention will not be necessary for those familiar with the art, itbeing noted that materials other than those enumerated maybe employed if they possess the necessary-properties above specified.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may beemployed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provicled the. means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means -be;employed. r Itherefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

,A supporting and conveying ,mechanism i 

